Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-08-08

StlU uSTorS he lSu asked MS NlSltOI
% be seated he had given her the
benefit of his unqualified approval.
The young lady hesitated moment,
IS if the business in hand were new
70 her, but her voice BETRAYED no ner-
vousness when she said, noting bis
OSercOat on his arm:
Il will detain you only minute.
Illearned Yesterday that there was a
vacancy in this office. and, although
I've had no experience in such po-
sition. should like the opportunity
of trying TO I'LL it.
Mr.. Parker instantly determined
70 place her at the vacant desk; she
gave him such an impression of finish
and completeness that he was sure
she would do anything well.
The place is not a particularly
desirable one" he said, before an
swering her application; the work is
entirely clerical, and not very inter
esting, l fear"
The nature of the work will not
trouble me if can only do it." was
the reassuring reply of Miss Fergu-
son: whereupOn Mr.. Parker asked
her to come the next morning. and,
in parenthesis. and as if it were a
matter of small moment, mentioned
the compensation she should receive.
He held the door open as she passed
ont. and then followed her down
stairs at q becoming distance. More
than once, as he walked up the ave-
nue. of his room, he questioned the
wisdom Of his speedy decision; but
whenever a doubt arose it was in
stantIy confronted by that graceful
and finely poised figure, and was dis
solved into thin air. More than once.
too, 4 shade Of annoyance rested on
his face at the thought of the miss
ing manuscript, but the soft splendor
OF the October afternoon and the
brilliant throng of carriages and pc
destrians cTOwding the avenues di-
verted his mind from his work and
made him keenly receptive of the
movement and charm of his sur
rOundings. The next morning at
the appointed time Miss Ferguson
was at her desk. Her training was
Immediately evident; she seemed TO
know what was 10 be done by instinct.
and needed no furthe- direction than
q hint. In a week she had not only
mastered the details Of her work, but
BY decentralization had so reduced il
that she asked for more and had been
---4igneu Hse-~ difficult and exacting
tasks.
Mr.. Parker had brief intervals with
her, and treated her with the studi-
Gus courtesy that he accorded to al
women. He watched her work close
", and noted the fact that she was
not only exact, but showed a general
intelligence far beyond the require
ments of her position Meanwhile
the missing manuscript had not been
found. and the editor was becoming
hardened on the subject when a note,
in delicate feminine hand, reached
him through the mail one morning.
and reminded him that, though the
sketch had been in his hands more
than q month. no intimatiOn Of it:
fate had reached the writer. In.
stantly Mr.. Parker's perplexity re
turned, increased four fold: the
sketch had impressed him as a very or
iginal and striking piece Of work, and
he was really anxious to print it h'
was disappointed, therefore, as ar
editor keenly alive to the value ot
good work, and he was also embar
rassed in sending any communication
10 the author. Suppose she had NJ
copy, or had destroyed the origina
draft: He was at his wits end, wher
his eyes fell upon a small case o.
manuscripts that for lack Of return
postage or failure to send addresses
had been filed until called for; it wa
barely possible that the missing man
uscript had strayed into that repOsit
Ory Of unsuccessful literature. JUS
before leaving the Office that after
noon. he sent for Miss Ferguson.
Il am In dreadful dilemma, Mis-
Ferguson, he said smilingly. -
have lost a manuscript, or at least
mislaid It 1t was story entities
John Dolline's Quest and was writ
ten. if my recollection serves me, OF
unruled letter paper. The story wa
so remarkable that / should exceed
ingly regret TO lose it, TO say nothing
Of nv embarrassment in conveying
the fact 10 the writeI. II Is barrel,
possible that the manuscript has beef
put into this case, and / am going Z
ask you 70 make the search"
At the mention Of the name Of tia
rnislaid manuscript Mise FurgersOi
had flushed slightly, and when Mr.
Parker had ended sbe-said, hesitat
ingiy ibid you say It was story 2
s1Yes, Or, perhaps, more accurate
", character study Of uncommon
power 1t gave an account u mar
who, in moment Of great teEnpta
ton, committed q sin and lost al
sense Of his personal identity. ans
whose whole subsequent life was ;
search for himself. II was a yer
striking piece Of work"
Mise Ferguson had already turne,
-